New House ~ New Handgun ... any advice?

February 27, 2007 | Vanity

[Elle Bee]

I'm 90 miles from Cuba and I'm going to purchase a new handgun for a new house.

I'm thinking .45 ... Kimber

I'm open to all opinion and option.

I'm still holding out the thought of a revolver over an automatic for ease of maintenance in the subtropics

These threads are always informative and I would appreaciate your input before I make a final decision.

.

[Sax]

In my house there are pistols, rifles, and shotguns. I prefer the short barrelled shotgun. But, by the time I'd be bringing anything to bear, the alarm would be most likely be going off and the 100lb dog would be rather upset.

There's nothing macho about my take, in fact it's the opposite. And there's nothing bullshit about parking yourself behind a shotgun.

[from occupied ga]

Same here in Virginia and probably most states.

Very dependent on which state. In NY and MA you're toast if you defend yourself. GA, FL, and TX you will PROBABLY be OK. Dunno about the rest.

[from occupied ga]

And there's nothing bullshit about parking yourself behind a shotgun

I never said there was, just that letting your opponent in a potentially life and death situation know where you are is not a good idea. And try the piece of paper thing from 10 ft.

[angkor]

Very dependent on which state.

Absolutely.

So just as important as the hardware and the gear, is knowing the law in your own state, preferably obtained from a competent criminal defense attorney in that state (a state NRA branch might have recommendations).

And that applies to both CCW and home defense. Some people may even not want to carry concealed if their state is not supportive of self-defense. The potential legal hassles may outweigh the risk of carrying a pistol (as oppposed to pepper spray or a stun gun).

Personally, in addition to the carry license I always have the phone number for one of the nation's top 2nd Amendment attorneys in my wallet.

[btcusn]

You have good taste, Kimber makes fine pistols. Make sure you get one with the internal extractor, and in stainless steel. Most importantly, PRACTICE!!!!
Jack

[ctdonath2]

Glock 19, with Hornady TAP or Cor-Bon DPX 9mm.
Pull switch, go bang.
Every time.
Compact.

[xrp]

If you want a semi-auto that will always work and can't be fouled, that's GLOCK. Plus, with the GLOCK 23, you get 13+1, the Kimber is 7+1, I think.

[Sax]

I've peppered squirrels as a kid from short range, before realizing they're useless as meat after that. You quickly learn if they wheel around a nearby tree to aim off by a bit in order to catch them with just the fringe of the pattern.

Again, that's the whole point of #4 shot. At distance they'd spread, but close in, they'll hit nearly all together. Nearly though, you do get a few wayward souls in a lot of patterns.

[Jaxter]

"... you like the Mossberg?"

I'm a big Mossberg fan. I've had 3 over the years.

[SpinnerWebb]

"If they don't already have a weapon, home invaders will *always* grab the biggest and ugliest knife from your kitchen drawer. Always."

Exactly. They're killers. I am NOT a killer. I would never intend to kill anyone. I would just want to stop him from killing anyone.

Excellent linguistics class, if nothing else. Seriously, it DOES highlight legal nuances that are important to know. Just in case.

[wtc911]

In NY and MA you're toast if you defend yourself.

___________________________________________

I don't know about MA but NY has very liberal (in the sense of giving the homeowner latitude) self-defense laws. About the only thing you can't do is step outside the house (or car) to shoot somebody unless that person is commiting arson or bodily harm to another. The rule is, if you shoot him in the backyard drag him into the kitchen...or wait until he sticks his foot through the door or window.

[from occupied ga]

When I lived there, I remember several people getting prosecuted for shooting people in their homes. Maybe times have changed.

[Jaxter]

"why do people always recommend a .357 then tell people to practice with .38?"

Because it's a lot cheaper to shoot blaster .38 SPL than .357 Magnum HydraShok. You should of course occasionally fire enough rounds of what you intend to carry to make sure can hit what you aim at. At 15 yards I hit almost exactly the same place with either.

[wtc911]

NYS Penal code:

"2. A person may not use deadly physical force upon another person under circumstances specified in subdivision one unless:

(a) He reasonably believes that such other person is using or about to use deadly physical force. Even in such case, however, the actor may not use deadly physical force if he knows that he can with complete safety as to himself and others avoid the necessity of so doing by retreating; except that he is under no duty to retreat if he is:

(i) in his dwelling and not the initial aggressor; or

(ii) a police officer or peace officer or a person assisting a police officer or a peace officer at the latter`s direction, acting pursuant to section 35.30; or

(b) He reasonably believes that such other person is committing or attempting to commit a kidnapping, forcible rape, forcible sodomy or robbery; or

(c) He reasonably believes that such other person is committing or attempting to commit a burglary, and the circumstances are such that the use of deadly physical force is authorized by subdivision three of section 35.20.

[from occupied ga]

Even in such case, however, the actor may not use deadly physical force if he knows that he can with complete safety as to himself and others avoid the necessity of so doing by retreating; except that he is under no duty to retreat if he is

It's that duty to retreat that makes self defense difficult in the peoples' democracy.

[JB in Whitefish]

the .50 cal action express from desert eagle is surprisingly LOW in recoil...and,

the added attraction is that if you run out of ammo you can always beat the intruder to death with a few swift strokes of the heavy barrel.

I thought about this gun in .44 magnum for bear protection, but even then it's too darn bulky and will cause hip displacement when carried all day.....!!!

[JB in Whitefish]

I'm with you on this one.

MUCH cheaper and as for "familiarization" of handling and "sight picture" there's essentially NO difference. Knowing you can actually HIT something with the weapon is a BIG confidence builder....and you won't break your wrist trying to get there with the lighter loads............


THEN you expend a couple of boxes of the "big stuff".

Just plain common sense economics.

Unless you live in a REALLY big house, you won't be shooting more than 10 to 30 feet anyway, even if you're outside....since this will most likely take place at night.

Talk to a cop....most "gun battles" go down in close quarters and due to human impulse and raging adrenaline...MOST shots miss, even if you've spent months at the range.

Like I said, better to know your aim is "automatic" at short range and can confidently hit a moving target than practicing for that once in a lifetime Annie Oakley shot at hunting range.

But, then...I'm no "expert".

[dangerdoc]

safety slugs have their drawbacks. If you hit an extremity before central mass, the slug will not make it to vitals.

If you want something that will not overpenetrate but drop a bad guy even if you hit an arm, try 12 gauge birdshot. A short barrelled pistolgrip shotgun is easy to handle in tight spaces.

It even has non-lethal aplications, the sound of a shell being chambered can clear a room.

[cicero's_son]

I love my Kimber Ultra .45.

Can't go wrong with that one.

[dangerdoc]

Sig 226 in stainless.

45 auto goodness.

hammer drop safety

trigger works like double action revolver

Sweet action and accurate.